Dilator



A. F. REITZ May 17, 1927.

DILA'I'OR Filed Oct. 2

imam i. animate Kan as time, in issonei; V

V the same comprises Patented May 17, 1927 This invention relates todrlatora and par- 'ticnlarly' to devices of this character which areprovided with heating elements in order to enable the dilatorsto exert aeffect byjthe action 'oiheatj v Accordingly, this inventionfaims toprovide anrovel dilator construction having an electrical heatingelement fitted with an 1511 1 proved electric insulating element'a'dapted therapeutic to maintain the heating unit in proper o e element"and thus eliminating any kinks or bends that might r'es'ult from theinsertion I invention will now be described by reference I of theheating unit into the dilator body.

It is also sought to; provide a-dilator 1 having an exterior taperedportion inter mediate its ends, for facilitating the a pii: cation ofthe device 'intoiop'erative position,

said tapered portion being also'formedwith a shoulder tending to opposeany casual displacement of the device while inoperative position.

With these general objects in view, the

' to the, accompanying drawing illustrating one form of constructionwhich I have devised for embodying the proposedimprovemen'ts, afterwhich those features deemed to be novel will becparticularly set forth.

and claimed.

In the draWinga Figure 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing adilator construction embodying the proposed features of improvement; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line IIII of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and-4 are transverse sections taken on the lines IIIIII andIV-IV, respectively, of Figure 2; and p v Figure 5 is a perspective viewillustrating the I dilator casing Application iile'd m 2, 1925.; Serialno. chitin.

tlrei lieatin unitpr asseinbly removed from f gReierring'now to "the""drawing in detail;

th isshows a liollovv" dilator casing'B having a slightly enlarged "ovalortion "9 at its closed end, and suitable flange 10 at open end forlimiting the application of the casing into operative "position; ilntermedi ate its ends, the exterior of thveasjingyis formed with anenlargement 11,"" su;i tably tapered in the direction of the closed end;

of tl1e"easing,'whereas that portion of the enlargement 11 whichisnearest toth'e open end of the casing Sis ioi' med witha shoal;

der 12 adapted to opp'osefany casual 'withf drawing movement of thedilator when in positi'onof use. a a

The heating am or assembly winch see. i

' signed to be placed 'ifnside the dilator casing 8 comprises anelectricall'r'cating' element-14.- wlii'c hj-ma-y, under some"conditions, be c'o ated with is h ell ac,' the intermediate portion ofwhich element 14: is-coiled about the middle portion of-ran insuia-tin*eie nent -lo or mic-a or fiber mater al, having a certain degree ofresiliency, so that'. when formed into shape "as illustrated-in Figures2"and' 5, the we I legs of the ele1nenti -1-5 will act't'o spread apartthe bi'anclies'of theheaftingwire 'i ls to maintain the same in properseparated relation; inaclditron to which, the free; end

of the *leg portions or the insulating ele ment 15 willspringinto'frictional en'gage ment with the' i nteribr 'oi the-casing 8,and

thereby oppose-any withdrawing action of the heating assembly, as willbe readily understood. The ends of the heating wire. 14: are received inthe usual form of plug 17 a and secured theretoby'clampscrews 18, the Iplug 17 having a reduced portijon l'l for fitting in themouth or open,end ofthe eas ing'8, as clearly shown in Figure12. The -i plug 17 hasthe usual posts 20 for making electrical connection with thefsocketfrnember 21 (Figure 1), whereby; the device may besupp-lied with electricenergy from any suitable source. In assembling the heating v unit withinthe casingl8 of the device, it

will be understood that the heating Wire 14 is connected to the plug17"and secured thereto by the screws 18, and then the assem- 'bly 1415isthrust into the interior ofthe casing 8tot-he full depthofthereducedportion 17' of the plug 17 within the mouth or open end of the-easingthat is, till its shoulder portion-19 isistoppedagainst the i outer.face of the flange 10. In this insertingmovement, thelegs 15 of the:insulating the insulating element 15, remainssubstantially stationary, aslight tension is imposed 3 upon the'heating wire ll, thus straightening'OLltfiIlYEGI'OOkS or'kinks in the wire, and the, supportingaction ofthe element 15 and the plug 17 serves to maintain the wire 1a insubstantially central position within the interiorofthe casing S, withthe branches of ,'the.wire-separatedeproperly out: of contact with eachother, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The plug l7, is now securedin this slightlywithdrawn. position from the =casing 81by' meansofaclamp screw 22 fitted through'the flange 10 andengaging a slightdepression .23 in the plug "17.

' It will thus-be apparent that'I have devise'dga practical" andeflicient" device for :carrying out the objects oftheinvention, andthatjthe same is adapted for usein any V open at one end, a plug for theopen end of of the applieations in which adevice of this have.illustrated"and describedrwliat I now regard as the preferredform ofconstruction for embodying the improven'ients,pl desire, to reservetheright to makeaall such changes 'or modifications jas may fairly fallwithin .1 th scope of thelappe'nded claims; ,j

- LIA dilator comprising open at one end, an electric heatingelementcharacter may; be desirjedfor exerting a therapeutieaotion by aheating, elfect, combined {with a; dilation; of the muscles and'fleshy-rpartsfthat: are;v involved. WVhile I What I claimis:

within saidjcasing, a Uwshapedv insulating element carrying said heatingelement and .haw ing. its free ends located adjacent the a hollow casingopen end of'said casing, said insulating eleopen atone end, a'plug forthe open end of said casing, a heating element connected to, said plug,and arisilient U-shaped insulat ing element supporting said heatingvelement out of contact 'with the interior of. the casing, saidinsulating element having'its free endslocated adjacent to said plug andadapted for frictional engagement with the interior of the casing. v

3. A dilator comprising a hollowicasing open at one end,'a; plug forthe'openl end of said casing, a heating element connected to 7 saidplug, and afreslhent U-shapedaln'sulat-l 7 'ing element of slightly lesslength of said heating element and-adapted-to support the latter outofcontact with the interior of the caslng, said insulating element'havingits free ends in frictional engagement with the interior of thecasingadjacent to said plug,

whereby aslight withdrawal of the'latter will effect a'tensioning of thebranches of said heating element, r Y 4. A dilator comprising ahollowncasing said casing a heating element connected to said plug, anda resilient U-shaped 7 insulat- 1'ng element of slightlyless lengthof=said and means for securingsaid plug in slightly spaced relation tothe-ends ofsaid insulating element for, maintaining the branches ofinterior offthe easing adjacent to said plug, I

said heating element under slight tension. In'iwitness' whereof Ihereunto affix my signature. I 1

ALBERT F. REIl-Zi o

